Chuck Wright
Chuck Wright (born September 13, 1959) is an American bassist, graphic designer and show producer, best known as a member of multi-platinum heavy metal band Quiet Riot.[1] He originally joined Quiet Riot in 1982, playing bass on the tracks "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" and "Don't Wanna Let You Go," as well as singing background vocals on all the tracks from the 1983 hit album, Metal Health.[2]
Chuck Wright | |
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Wright in 2011 | |
Background information | |
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | September 13, 1959
Genres | Heavy metal, hard rock, progressive rock, reggae |
Occupation(s) | Musician, bassist, songwriter, graphic designer |
Instruments | Bass guitar |
Years active | 1982–present |
Associated acts | Quiet Riot, Giuffria, House of Lords |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chuck Wright. |
Throughout the 80s and 90s, Wright left and rejoined Quiet Riot multiple times, most recently rejoining in August 2005 for their “Rock Never Stops” tour and staying until the untimely passing of lead singer Kevin DuBrow in October 2007. After a three-year hiatus, the band reformed with a new lead vocalist and began touring again in 2010.
Wright is featured in the documentary Quiet Riot - Well Now You're Here, directed and produced by Regina Russell. It premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival on April 29, 2014, was seen at the Cannes Film Festival, and has aired on the Showtime Network.
Bio
Wright's career in mainstream rock first took off when he joined Giuffria in 1984. Their debut album Giuffria peaked at #26 on the Billboard album charts on March 2, 1985. The album spawned two hit singles, "Call to the Heart" (Hot 100 #15) and "Lonely In Love" (Hot 100 #57). After sold-out arena tours with Deep Purple and Foreigner, Wright left Giuffria to re-join Quiet Riot in 1986, replacing Rudy Sarzo, recording and writing songs for their QRIII release and supporting world tour.
His reputation as one of the most sought-after bass players has landed him gigs with such music icons as Alice Cooper, Slash, Gregg Allman, Carmine Appice, Ronnie Montrose, John Waite, and Pat Travers. Wright has appeared on over 90 worldwide record releases, playing bass and producing albums of various styles, including ambient trance, reggae, rap, country and rock. He has toured all over the world, performing in North America, Europe, Russia and the Far East.
He was also directly involved in seven film scores, most notably being the Universal Studios film release Kull the Conqueror, where he was joined by Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Over the years, Wright also worked with House Of Lords, Bad Moon Rising, Blackthorne, Christian Tolle Project, Doro, Impellitteri, Kuni, MSG, Magdalen, Murderer's Row, Pata, Stephen Pearcy, Adler's Appetite, Love/Hate, Ken Tamplin, Shane Gibson from Korn, and has recorded various tribute albums with many other luminaries. Wright has headed up “Ultimate Jam Night,” a long-running live music show since January 2015 at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood. Now a popular Sunset Strip fixture, “Ultimate Jam Night” features up to 60 pro musicians each week.
Wright still tours with Quiet Riot, remains an in-demand session player, and performs live with various rock acts, as well as his Los Angeles eclectic local group Acoustic Saints. He is endorsed by Ampeg, Godin Guitars, CAD Microphones and Sick Boy Motorcycles.
Discography
With Quiet Riot
- Metal Health (1983) (bass on “Metal Health” & “Don’t Wanna Let You Go”)
- Condition Critical (1984) (backing vocals)
- QR III (1986)
- Terrified (1993) (backing vocals)
- Down to the Bone (1995)
- Quiet Riot 10 (2014)
- Road Rage (2017)
- Hollywood Cowboys (2019)
With House of Lords
- House of Lords (1988)
- Sahara (1990)
- The Power and the Myth (2004)
- Live in the UK (2007)
- Anthology (2008)
With Heaven & Earth
- Dig (2013)
- Hard to Kill (2017)
Other releases
- KUNI - Masque (1986)
- Gregg Allman - "I'm No Angel"/Demos (1987)
- Ted Nugent - If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em (1988)
- Impellitteri - Stand in Line (1988)
- Ann Lewis - Meiki (1988)
- Nobuhiko Satoh - Turning Point (1988)
- Doro Pesch - Doro (1990)
- Rock vs. Rap - Mash Up (1990)
- Sam Kinison - Leader of the Banned (1990)
- Bad Moon Rising - Bad Moon Rising (1991)
- Atsuki - Dinosaur (1991)
- N.W.O.B.H.M. All Stars (1991)
- Impellitteri - Grin and Bear It (1992)
- Magdalen - Revolution Mind (1993)
- Shack Of Peasants - Classic Blues, Vol. 1 (1993)
- Bad Moon Rising - Blood (1994)
- Blackthorne - Afterlife (1994)
- Magdalen - The Dirt (1995)
- The CMC's - All In A Day from Everyday Death Sentence (1995)
- Children of Zion - Reggae Worship Vol. II (1995)
- Pata - Raised on rock (1995)
- Carol Huston - Grace (1995)
- Black On Blond - Wild Anticipation (1995)
- Chaos Is The Poetry - Chaos Is The Poetry (1996)
- Every Day Life - Disgruntled (1996)
- Magdalen - End Of Ages (1996)
- Murderer's Row - Murderer's Row (1996)
- Honey - Paradise (1997)
- Eyes (featuring Jeff Scott Soto) - Eyes (1998)
- Lanny Cordola - Salvation Medecine Show (1998)
- Stuart Smith - Heaven and Earth (1999)
- Magdalen - END OF THE AGES (1999)
- Humanary Stew: a Tribute to Alice Cooper (1999)
- 28if - 28if (1999)
- Odd Man Out - Y2K (2000)
- SX-10 (featuring Sen Dog and Everlast) - Mad Dog American (2000)
- Teddy Andreadis - Innocent Loser (2000)
- David Glen Eisley - Stranger from the Past (2000)
- Atsuki Yokozeki Project - Raid (2001)
- Katt Lowe and the Othersyde (2001)
- Luminosity (2001)
- Milkweed (2001)
- A Tribute To Blondie (various artists) (2001)
- Essential Metal Masters (2001)
- Katt Lowe - Katt Lowe and the Othersyde (2001)
- A Tribute To Limp Bizkit - Mutated .. Manipulated .. Translated (2002)
- Ephesians Project (2002)
- Freddy Cannon - Have A Boom Boom Christmas (2002)
- A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen - Made In The USA (2002)
- Impellitteri - The Very Best of Impellitteri: Faster Than the Speed of Light (2002)
- Catena (2003)
- David Glenn Eisley - The Lost Tapes (2003)
- Hedeki - Drunk Punk (2003)
- Jeff Eaton - Wish You Were Here (2003)
- Kevin Gales - I Didn't Count On This (2003)
- Maskless (with Raven James) (2003)
- Paul Shortino - Sacred Place (2003)
- Broby - Hard to Kill (2004)
- Audrey Forrest (2004)
- Matt Sorum - Hollywood Zen (2004)
- Mr. Big - Greatest Hits (2004)
- Mr. Big - Influences and Connections (2004)
- Chris Catena - Freak Out (2004)
- Numbers of The Beast - A Tribute To Iron Maiden (2004)
- James Christian- Meet the Man (2004)
- Hollywood Rocks! (2004) (Audio companion to Hollywood Rocks: The Ultimate Guide to the 1980's Hollywood, California Rock-N-Roll Music Scene)
- Cypress Thrill (2004)
- Rock vs. Rap (2004)
- Michael Schenker - Heavy Hitters (2005)
- Bad Moon Rising - Full Moon Collection (2005)
- Odd Man Out - Greatest Hits (2005)
- Stephen Pearcy - Stripped (2006)
- Travers and Appice - Bazooka (2006)
- Can You Rock? Sing and Play the Songs of [Led Zeppelin (2006)
- A Tribute to Thin Lizzy (2006)
- Pat Travers - Superstition (2006)
- Out of Ruin - What I Can't See (2007)
- Southern Rock Tribute to Gretchen Wilson (2007)
- Chris Catena - Booze, Brawds and Rockin Hard (2007)
- Saints of the Underground (with Jani Lane)- Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner (2008)
- Adrian Gaylsh - Earth Tones (2008)
- Northern Lights - Spirit of Christmas (2009)
- I Feel Free: Eric Clapton Salute (2009)
- Northern Lights - Celebrate Christmas (2010)
- KUNI - KUNI ROCK (2011)
- Keep Calm And Salute Queen (2015)
- Northern Light Orchestra - Star of the East (2017)
- Bob Kulick - Skeletons in the Closet (2017)
- David Glen Eisley & Craig Goldy - Blood Guts & Games (2017)
- Chris Catena’s Rock City Tribe - Truth in Unity (2020)
References
- Carlo Wolff (15 September 1986). "Smaller Crowd Greets Quiet Riot Return Visit". Schenectady Gazette. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- Saulnier, Jason (6 June 2008). "Chuck Wright Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 3 July 2013.